News

Poking around over on the Neowin forums it looks like Microsoft is moving along toward the XP SP2 final. Seems they are asking thier beta testers to give it a whirl for bug checks.


XP SP2

Getting tired of all the weekly patch downloads to fix those IE6 security holes that would put a piece of swiss cheese to shame? Why not give another browser a spin around the block?

A new version of the Opera browser is out in both without java3.32MB and with java16.09MB

Ahh, we've got some good stuff this weekend from myself. Perhaps some other person will give me a review I'm waiting for also... Hmm?

CM Jet 7 @ Piratesoftware.
UFO Case @ MTB.
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro @ VL.
Netdisk 80GB @ Bigbruin.
Philips Keyring MP3 @ Designtechnica.
Shuttle SB62G2 @ Hexus.
Gigacube 9600 Pro @ OCTools.

Abit is releasing a new nForce2 based platform called the AN7. From what I can tell it looks to be a refinement of the NF7-S along with thier new uGuru techology, which is an all-in-one feature that combines control of your audio, PC monitoring, bios flashing, tech support and overclocking utility all from within Windows.



Abit AN7 Specs

Looks like the upcoming Serial ATA 2 specs are getting an airing at this weeks Intel Developers Forum. Seems they are implementing more scsi-like features into the specs. Given what Western Digital seems to be doing with thier 74GB Raptor Sata drive ( StorageReview WD 74GB Raptor Preview here ) it may very well take the place of the tried and true scsi standard.


SATA II news

A bit win for AMD is Sun which will start to use their new Opteron CPUs in their servers. Sun will be, most likely, be one of the biggest customers.

Quote

The company expects to follow that release with a 64-bit version of its Solaris operating system for Opteron by the middle of 2004. Sun plans to offer a preview version of the OS in the late spring, followed by a production version in the summer, the company said.

Well, well. I'm expecting the gaming site to be officially opened in a day or two! Stay tuned to this space for that. Details will follow and a giveaway will probably happen!

Smart Drive 2k2 Enclosure @ MTB.
Swiftech MCX478 @ Madshrimps.
Asetek Watercooling @ VL.
Vantec Vortex @ HightekPC.
DFI nForce 2 @ Ohls.

Ever seen though nice screens on the Power Macs? Damn Now they have 20inch versions. Walk into your local computer store and check these things out. I'm a PC person all the way, but damn those are nice screens.

Quote

The 20-inch iMac comes with a 1.25GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 256MB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, Nvidia GeForce FX Ultra 5200 graphics chip and Apple's SuperDrive DVD recorder/CD burner. It is available now for $2,199, Apple said.

If your one of those privacy advocates that doesn't like RFID, break out the foil because that foils the tags ability to send out data. A bad joke yes, but it is true.

Quote

Makers of RFID (or radio frequency identification) tags, along with the retailers and suppliers who plan to use them, are saying the technology they spent millions of dollars developing is too weak to threaten consumer privacy. Metals, plastics and liquids, they say, all block radio signals before they reach RFID reader devices.

I just got the first shipment of stuff yesterday for reviews. Expect something to happen during the weekend. I also am getting my retail edge 3.0Ghz CPU soon, expect a review on that.

SteeldPad 4S @ Creativemods.
Lightowl Cooler @ Voidedwarranty.
Comdex Day 1 @ AMDZonze.
Super Flower heatsink @ OCIA.
VIA K8 Chipset @ Hexus.
Cool Max Al enclosure @ Extremereviews.
Swiftech MCX462 @ FLHW.

The weekend is over and I don't have any reviews to put up... Maybe next weekend. Regardless, The gaming site will officially open this week. Get ready for that!

Hardware:
Gigabyte nForce 2 @ FLHW.
Abit IC7-Max3 @ Short-Media.
Gigabyte 655FX @ MBReview.
Opteron 248 @ AMDZone.
Chaintech 7.1 Soundcard @ Short-Media.
ATI AIW 9600 Pro @ Ascully.
Crucial 9800 Pro @ Techjuice.
Chaintech Athlon 64 Mobo @ OCTools.

Other:
Hitachi Sata Hard Drive @ Furioustech.
TT 480W Psu @ Extremereviews.
A+GBP Case @ PCtechzone.
Zalman 6.1 Headphones @ MTB.
UV Paint Guide @ Valley.
Vantec Panel @ Enscape.
Crucial 7 in 1 Reader @ VL.

The new huge storage that will debut with the new Itanium 2 in 2005 will allow the chip to run more than one thing at once. With a HUGE 24MB of cache, you can run many different programs at the same time. 24MB of cache, damn. That's more memory than my first computer (8MB of Ram).

Quote

The company has already said the chip will have two processors on a single piece of silicon, known as "dual core", and have 24 megabytes of cache.

Interesting link of the day... http://www.lumisource.com/product_details.asp?product=electra&product_id=1 It is a three foot high plasma lamp! I'm so getting one today!

CM Centurion 2 Case @ Ohls.
PrimoChill @ MTB.
Matrix Orbital LCD @ Ripnet.
Mushkin USB 256MB @ VL.
Gigabyte KT600 @ TT.
Samsung 17inch @ Designtechnica.

Another mouse review here at ASE Labs. This one is a wireless optical nonrechargable mouse. Madcat checks it out and gives us the report.



Read up on the whole thing. More reviews coming.

I keep saying it, I've got some reviews this weekend.

Albatron nForce 2 Ultra @ Furioustech.
Logitech IO Pen @ Hardextreme.
OCZ PC4200 @ PCStats.
Epox nForce 3 @ AMDZone.
Bytecc HDD Enclosure @ Ninjalane. We liked it.

We take a look at another Logitech wireless mouse. While not as indepth as the MX700, this mouse is very good at the market it targets. Read on as Madcat dives into the Click! Plus from Logitech.Next Page »

Fire up that internet connection and prepare to patch your installs. Microsoft has released a few new security patches for Windows and Office. It is pretty said when an Office program can be a vulnerability.

Quote

Perhaps the most serious flaw is a memory error in the Windows Workstation service, a software component that facilitates access to network resources such as printers and files. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to gain control of a person's PC via the Internet in much the same way the MSBlast worm was spread to hundreds of thousands of computers in August.

Remember to visit Windowsupdate at least once a week.

Check out my review of this doggy style case (I had to say it).



Read up on the whole thing. More reviews coming.

I actually have some more stuff to review this weekend, but for now, make sure you check out the gaming site!

Some PSUs @ Crazymodders.
Antec Overture HTPC Case @ Accelenation.
Thermaltake Volcano 12 Extreme @ HWHell.
Kingston HyperX DDR400 @ Legitreviews.
Epox nForce 2 Ultra @ Monkeyreview.
Maxtop case @ Ohls.
Fic K8T800 @ AMDZone.
Powercolor Radeon 9200SE @ Lanaddict.
Abit IS7 @ HCW.

This goes out to all fallen hero in our armed forces and to all that are serving the country right now. Please take some time out of your day to remember those that have fallen to give us our freedom.

I'm tapped. Check out Halo PC on the gaming site.

Radeon 9800 Pro @ Short-Media.
Epox K8T800 @ PCStats.
Aspire X-Dreamer 2 @ FLHW.
Crucial 9800 Pro @ ClubOC.
VIA CL10000 @ Tweaknews.
asetek Watercooling @ Madshrimps.

Lots of reviews in this post. And be sure to check out my CoolDog Case Review if you haven't.

Hardware:
Asus SK8V @ AMDZone.
P4 3.2C EE @ PCStats.
Hercules 9800SE AIW @ Hexus.

Cases, Cooling and Related:
Tweakmonster EL window thing @ ET.
Coolman LED fan @ FastlaneHW.
CMI BMW Case @ MHW.
Xdreamer 2 @ RBMods.
9800 Pro heatsink mod @ Nexus.
Silverstone Gaming Case @ Short-Media.
TT Volcano 12 Extreme @ HWHell.
And at TT.
CMI Mercedes Case @ TechIMO.
asetek Watercooling @ Ninjalane.

Whatever:
Logitech IO pen @ Bigbruin.
Auravision EL Mouse @ Ohls.
DVD Media Guide @ Designtechnica.
Crucial 256MB thumbdrive @ PCStats.
Logitech MX Duo @ Techjuice. Editor's Choice!

Looking for a cheap and relatively nice case? Look no further if cheapness is your friend. Read on about the Cool Dog Case!Next Page »

Lots of reviews. Damn. Don't worry, I should be caught up by this week.

CMI BMW Case @ TechIMO.
Radeon 9800XT @ TT.
OCZ DDR500 @ OCTools.
Albatron Springdale @ Legitreviews.
Dynapower USA Spiden case @ PCTZ.
Something new @ HWHell.

Okay, more reviews coming soon.

GW 520W PSU @ Madshrimps.
TS Heatronic P4 heatsink @ Frostytech.
SiS 655FX @ PCStats.
Mushkin PC4000 @ VL.
Shuttle SB65G2 @ Hexus.

nVidia has released a new set of Win2K/XP forceware drivers for the nForce chipset series. And this set includes a new version of the often cursed at SW IDE drivers. Let's hope they got those CD burner and hard drive issues cleared up. A list of the fixes and improvements.

- WHQL certified kit for nForce, nForce2, and nForce3
- First release of NVIDIA IDE driver for Windows XP and Windows 2000

General compatibility fixes
Audio Improvements:
- Realtek ALC655 codec support added
- Fix for BSOD on loading DLS files
- Reduced susceptibility to audio glitches under heavy system load; additional fixes for 6 channel GetPosition glitches
- ASIO support for recording at sample rates other than 48kHz; lower and more predictable latency
- Fixes for NOLF. The 3D minimum and maximum distance and the roll off factor were not being taken into account for air absorption. Also modified reverb gain so that the max distance was taken into account
- Fix for EAX reverbs; initialized EAX reverbs to off when querying for the EAX listener interface; updated EAX property handlers to ignore invalid parameters instead of range limiting -- this matches Creative EAX behavior

Direct download here. Win2K/XP nForce v3.13

The best combo of keyboard and mouse, ever. Read this now, before you try to buy another set.Next Page »

Are there chilly winds blowing about the Wintel alliance these days? Might be as I would have never thought that IBM would sign a deal to supply it's PowerPC cpu's to power Microsoft's Xbox 2. Whereas Intel probably doesn't make much in profit supplying older P3 tech cpu's to make Xboxes, this has got to be a blow to Intel's reputation.


IBM Knocks Intel Out of Xbox

Problems and problems, this is the second time something has been DOA sent to me . Ohh well, I have other reviews to post today, I'm hoping to finished the MX Duo review, and a very small case review. Maybe even a third item! Yes, I'm very behind on reviews.

Hardware:
Gigabyte Springdale @ TT. We tested a similiar board.
Soltek nForce 3 @ AMDZone.
VIA M10000 @ TT. We also tested this board.

Other:
Swiftech Watercooling @ ClubOC.
Klipsch 5.1 @ TTZ.
SteelPad 4D @ Tweaknews. I like this pad.
Shuttle SB65G2 @ TT.
Antec Lanboy @ CyberCPU.
Plextor DVR writer @ Designtechnica.
Plextor External DVDRW @ Tweaknews.

Ever wondered how a CPU is made? A layman's version of how the process goes from converting the raw materials into the brains of your PC are explained in this short article over at The Inquirer guide to making CPU's.